Rafsanjani: US Sending Positive Signals for Several Months
January 01, 2004
AFP
IranMania
BAM, Iran -- Influential former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Thursday that the United States had been sending positive signals over its relations with Islamic republic for several months.
He was speaking after Washington announced that it was temporarily lifting some of the sanctions imposed on Iran for more than 20 years to enable Americans to send cash and relief aid to the Iranian city of Bam following Friday's massive earthquake that killed tens of thousands.
"We must look at it more closely, but they are in the process of sending positive signals for several months now," Rafsanjani, chairman of the powerful Expediency Council arbitration body, said at Bam airport.
He singled out Wednesday's announcement by the United States that it was suspending for 90 days for humanitarian reasons some of its restrictions on contacts with Iran.
Asked about the possibility of a resumption of talks between Washington and Tehran, which call each other part of the "Axis of Evil" and "the Great Satan" respectively, Rafsanjani said, "I am not sure but there are signals" from the United States.
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